Kenya Met boss 'apologises' over El-Nino rains miscommunication

Kenya Meteorological Department Director Dr. David Gikungu. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

The Kenya Metrological Department (Kenya MET) has apologised for the miscommunication on the El Nino rains, weeks after President William Ruto downscaled the alert.

Speaking on Friday, November 10, Kenya MET boss David Gikungu stated that there was a miscommunication in the process of disseminating the alert on the rains.

"I want to point out that we have El Nino in this short rainy season. We do apologise for the lack of communication or miscommunication because that was a big mistake. Let us prepare because of the phenomenon of El-Nino that we are experiencing," said Gikungu.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also stated that the Government has put measures in place to aid those affected by the floods, especially in Northern Kenya where the floods have hit hard damagaing roads and property.

"The rains have caused havoc, especially in Arid and Semi-arid lands (ASALS). However, in working with our development partners, we are distributing food items such as maize, rice, and cooking oil to families to reduce the suffering of the affected families," Gachagua said.

Among the worst-hit counties are; Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit, Tana River, and Garissa where families have been displaced, roads cut off, and property destroyed.

The DP who was launching rain mitigation measures called on Kenyans to take the alerts issued by the MET department seriously, adding that the rains will pour until the first quarter of 2024.

"The KDF is running an operation center at the KDF headquarters. The Ministry of Interior is providing a security response and we also have airplanes that would be used for distribution of KCSE papers in areas where the roads are deemed impassible," he added.

Ruto had weeks earlier claimed that the MET Department had ruled out the possibility of El Nino rains which had earlier predicted that the rains would hit the country from mid-October to December.